The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association Inc.

The History of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association Inc.
In Chronological Order of Events

Chapter Two - 1967 to 1970

1967	New South Wales Squadron: The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard was formed in New South Wales in 1967 and covers an area from Port Hacking South of Sydney to Port Stephens north of Sydney. Mr. Ernest Tree held the position of Acting Squadron Commodore from 1967 to late 1969 when the Squadron was placed in the hands of a caretaker administration. This was an unsettling time in the history of the New South Wales Section of the organisation and negotiations were made with the Volunteer Coastal Patrol early in 1970, to work in closer co-operation. A "Memorandum of Intention" was drawn up and agreed to by both parties, however, because of insolvable difficulties, the agreement was terminated mid 1970. Mr. Fred Lee who had been acting as Squadron Commodore of the N.S.W. Flotillas in 1970 was officially appointed Squadron Commodore in July 1973 with the authority to continue recruitment to the New South Wales Squadron. The Squadron is comprised of 7 Flotillas, NF1 Port Jackson, NF2 Botany Bay, NF3 Ku-ring-gai, NF4 Port Hacking, NF8 Swansea, NF14 Port Stephens, NF20 Tuggerah Lakes and the Solander Division Later, a National Board meeting in August 1976 authorised the formation of an additional N.S.W. Squadron, the Illawarra Squadron, (now known as the Southern New South Wales Squadron.) NF1 Port Jackson Flotilla: NF1 was the first Flotilla formed in New South Wales in 1967 and is based at Birkenhead Point Shopping complex, on Quayside Birkenhead Point. The entrance to the Base is graced by "Little Nancy" a dinghy donated to the Flotilla by the late National Commodore R.W. 'Doc' Hardie. The Flotilla maintains two SAR vessels. CG11" Garry Kiely" an 8m Marlin with 2 x 120 mercury inboard turbo diesels and CG12 "Drummer" with 2 x 150hp Honda outboards. Since March 1992, NF1 has manned a category 1 Base at South Head Vaucluse in the premises of the "Old Signal Station", a building steeped in History. Radios are manned twenty-four hours a day, a tradition which had been carried on continuously since 20th January 1790 by Government employees. The Flotilla has guardianship of the Ocean Reference Station Monitor which is owned by Sydney Water. The ORS is the most Hi-Tech in the southern hemisphere with full colour monitor registering wind direction, wind speed, wave height, wave period, water temperature, current set and speed in graph form over a twenty-four hour period and consistently updates every five minutes. The full history of the Old Signal Station appears in the 'attachments to history' file.
1967	QF1 Southport. In 1965 Mr. Reg Leigh-Smith saw the need for a sea rescue group on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The group was first known as the Northern Rivers and Gold Coast Air Sea Rescue, later the name changed to Southport/Tweed Heads. Contact was made with National Commodore Madden and other National Officers to have the workings of the Australian Coast Guard Auxilliary explained, as this group was agreeable to have Coast Guard take over as a complete Flotilla. It was not until 16th May 1967 that QF1 Southport was formed, Graham Bond (a Water Policeman on the Coast) became the first Flotilla Commander. QF1 received its Charter on 2nd September 1969. The Charter was signed by National Commodore L. Swift and State Commodore Reg Leigh-Smith. The headquarters building was completed 28th October 1978 and officially opened on 2nd September 1979. Members used their own private vessels for rescue work until a 23ft. Shark Cat with 2 x 175hp motors was purchased for $28,000.00 in 1979. The Radio Base Call Sign "VJ4RE" used by QF1 Southport was the first Base Station using 2524 MHz in Australia. This frequency was basically designated at the Geneva Conventions as a purely ship-to-ship frequency not ship to shore.
1967	NF2 Botany Bay: As the designation NF2 indicates, Botany Bay Flotilla was the second Flotilla to be formed in New South Wales in 1967. Because of insurmountable problems the Flotilla was disbanded until 1976 when the Flotilla was reformed with assistance from NF4 Port Hacking who divided their membership and resources to enable the provision of service to boat owners in the Bay and Georges River areas. The first meeting of the reformed Flotilla was held at the Civic Centre, Carringbah in December 1976 with fifteen members in attendance. Two original members in 1967, Keith Garth (aptly described as the cornerstone of NF2) and Bob Wallace (setting a high standard in training) are still active with the Flotilla today. Brian Gee was the first Flotilla Commander in 1976; Max Allen was Vice Commander Bob Mitchell was Training Officer and Reg Gilmore Staff Officer. The Flotilla received its Charter on 3rd March 1978, signed by National Commodore Norm Miles and New South Wales Squadron Commodore Jim Mortimer. The first vessel acquired was a 20 foot steel half cabin which required refitting before being used as a rescue vessel. Refitting by members proved impossible and the vessel was sold as a bare hull. In June 1983 the Flotilla amalgamated with NF12 Georges River and membership rose to seventy-two among whom were men whose organizational skill and experience have been significant in the growth and consolidation , which has taken, place since. Prominent names include Ron Andrews, Commander of NF12, Bruce Bell and Ron Budds. Credit must also go to Kevin Berriman. The first successful Flotilla owned vessel was CG166, a fourteen foot Manta, powered by a 40hp Mariner outboard, the purchase price being $4,573.00. Four years later the vessel was sold and CG171 "Dianne" was donated. This vessel was christened on 5th April 1987. Free storage facilities had been provided at Lewis Anchorage, Woolooware Bay and Flotilla meetings are held at the Revesby Workers Club. On 18th February 2005 NF2 handled the entry of the First Fleet Re-enactment into Botany Bay with thirty-three vessels and crews from other Coast Guard Flotillas from Swansea in the north to Southern New South Wales assisting.
1968	NF3 Ku-Ring-Gai Flotilla was formed in 1968 and provides a boating safety net over the Broken Bay and Hawkesbury River area just north of Sydney, New South Wales. Their rescue vessel "MMI", a 7.8m Cougar Cat powered by twin 150HP Yamaha outboards was commissioned in October 1992.
5th June 1969	Les Swift, Victoria, edited and presented the first edition of "Boatmaster"
5th July 1969	Reference was made to having the Association registered in Canberra. Consideration was to be given to the motion to have State Registration as suggested by the Prime Ministers Office. Ted Madden wanted to establish a National library of Text Books, Films and Training Aids and to create a Register of Licensed Instructors Changes to the Constitution were to be made. J.V. Arnott was compiling records of Coast Guard. Promotion of an Auxiliary in Queensland and Northern New South Wales was successfully accomplished. National Board Officers were - L. Swift became National Commodore E. Madden was National Training Commodore J. Arnott was National Staff Commodore E. Tree was State Commodore for New South Wales D. Harper was State Commodore for Victoria, J. Hoskins was Vice Commodore
5th July 1969	A new Flotilla was formed at St. Kilda and a SAR Control Centre at Carrum was formed. Approval was given to VF8 Geelong for the building of their Headquarters. Commodore Henry was granted Life Membership of the Association and Substantive Rank of National Staff Commodore. Commodores Swift and Madden received Substantive Rank of National Commodore.
30th July 1969	With the success of a Coast Guard Base at Southport, Queensland, it was conceived that there should be a Coast Guard right around Australia. Commodore Reg Leigh Smith and Bruce Harris who was the Training Leader at Southport flew to Cairns and Mossman and visited towns right down the Coast meeting with Port Authorities, Harbours and Marine and Police to explain their ideas and were warmly received. They addressed the Rotary Club at Maroochydore and outlined the practical workings of Coast Guard
8th Nov. 1969	Reg Leigh Smith became the first State Commodore for Queensland An approach to request Prince Phillip to be appointed National Honorary Commodore was to be made by Sir Rohan Delacomb.
7th Aug 1970	In 1970 the name was changed to the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association Incorporated and the Association was incorporated under the Incorporation Ordinance 1953-1966. The Certificate of Incorporation of an Association was signed on 7th August 1970. (See attached copy of this document)
17th Aug 1970	QF9 Cairns: On 17th August 1970, a meeting chaired by President N. Pruden of the Cairns Motor Boat Club was held with Queensland State Commodore Reg Leigh Smith, Training Officer Bruce Harris and Twenty- six persons were in attendance. The meeting decided immediately to start a Flotilla. The area served was to be north to Trinity Bay and south to the Mulgrave River. Mr. Norm Miles was selected as Flotilla Leader of QF9 Cairns, Vice Flotilla Leader was B. Barker, Bob Jerram, Training Officer and Frank Carter, Staff Officer.
October 1970	QF8 Townsville: The Townsville Flotilla was formed by a group of concerned boaties who decided that the increase in recreational boating was not matched by the establishment of matching rescue and educational facilities available. This rescue group made approaches for affiliation with the newly established organisation in Queensland, then known as the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Auxiliary. Thus QF8 Townsville was formed under the leadership of Commodore Les Darcy and Vice Commodore Lew Green. A radio base was established initially in the Townsville Motor Boat Club and members used their own vessels for rescues. The area served by the Flotilla is south to Cape Bowling Green and north to Great Palm Island. The first Flotilla owned vessel, a 23ft Shark Cat powered by twin 115hp Johnson outboards was launched on 23rd February 1974. This vessel was lost in an accident at sea during a rescue mission on 18th November 1977. An 18ft caravan was purchased and used as an operations centre until a permanent operations building was completed and officially opened on 2nd September 1978 by the Mayor of Townsville, the late Perc. Tucker. A replacement vessel, another 23ft Shark Cat was launched on 24th January 1978. This was followed by a 32ft Power Cat "Mabel Cunningham", then a 10 metre Norcat "Mabel Cunningham 11" launched by Commodore Graham Clarke on 29th July 1987. A replacement vessel "Spirit of Rotary" a 43ft fly bridge cruiser powered by 450HP Cummins turbo diesels was launched by National Commodore Gillett on 6th October 2001. The Flotilla received its Charter signed by National Commodore Clarke and presented by State Commodore Fred Lee on 15th August 1973.
1970	In the mid 1970's the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association comprised of some 30 Flotillas. In the mid 1990's there were 60 Flotillas, with some 2700 regular members and 8000 associate members.
1970	QF12 Tully: Early in 1970, Hank Penning began a safety watch program in the Tully area using private vessels and radio bases. After the death of Hank Penning mid 1970, it was decided that a more formal approach was needed and wheels were put in motion to form an official Coast Guard. Land was obtained and an old house was purchased and relocated to the site. The building was an old farmhouse with an asking price of $500. The Flotilla offered to pay $1000 and the vendor was requested to donate $500 back to QF12. A this time the Queensland Government paid $ for $ on all monies raised, so the actual cost of the building was $0.00. This building was opened on 1st October 1977. The first rescue vessel was a 23-foot Shark Cat. The designated area served is north to Clump Point and south to Murray River. A new headquarters building situated on the Hull River and costing $150,000 was opened on 28th March 1992. The current rescue vessel named "Mary Liddle" is an 8.2 metre Cairns Custom Craft. The Flotilla received its Charter on 11th March 1978
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